Australia’s First Christmas of the Year? It’s in July, Here’s Why

It might sound like the opening of a joke—six Irishmen walk into a bar—but this moment in a chilly Australian hotel is said to have sparked a seasonal tradition now beloved across the country: Christmas in July.

While much of the world basks in summer sun, Australia finds itself deep in winter during July.

And for many Aussies, that’s the perfect excuse to embrace all the festive trappings of a traditional, wintry Christmas – roasts, sweaters, carols, and cozy decor.

What began in the 1980s as a spontaneous celebration at a weathered hotel in the Blue Mountains has since snowballed into a national winter ritual.

Across Australia (and even parts of New Zealand), cafés and pubs dish out festive fare, families gather for mid-year feasts, and Santa Claus makes a mid-winter appearance.

Even overseas, the idea has caught on. On Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, homesick Australians have flipped the script.

They celebrate July as a sun-drenched summer Christmas, complete with prawns and lamingtons.

“Don’t get me wrong,” says Vincent Hernandez, who moved from Paris to Australia over a decade ago.

“I love a beach Christmas in December, but there’s something perfect about melted cheese in winter.

“Now we get to enjoy both.”

The origins of Christmas in July are a bit hazy, with some claiming it first appeared in the U.S. in the early 20th century.

But Garry Crockett, now 76, believes Australia’s version began at his Mountain Heritage Hotel in Katoomba in 1980.

That night, with snow falling outside, six Irishmen walked in reminiscing about wintry Christmases back home. Garry decided to create one for them on the spot.

He dusted off an old Christmas tree, hung up decorations, and whipped up a festive meal likely featuring pumpkin soup.

Other likely featurres included roasted meats, and traditional plum pudding—with a hidden coin, in true British style.

“It was a hoot of a time,” he recalls.

The guests, around 80 in number, partied into the early hours.

The tradition stuck.

Garry’s father, originally from Belfast, would dress up as Santa each year, his personal highlight.

Soon, the hotel attracted international guests from Singapore, Japan, and beyond.

Though some local churches initially pushed back, the idea quickly gained popularity.

Today, people across Australia host themed dinners and parties.

In Newcastle, Joshua Robb, 37, prepares elaborate six-course feasts for friends, complete with Christmas crackers and holly-covered menus.

“I’d do Christmas ten times a year if I could,” he laughs.

For him, July offers the cold weather needed to wear festive sweaters, unthinkable in Australia’s scorching December heat.

Filipino-Australian Neil Ferro, 47, agrees.

“It just feels more Christmassy when it’s cold,” he says while preparing a vegan holiday dinner.

July, he adds, is a dreary time of year, so why not use it to celebrate?

In Sydney’s historic Rocks district, the Christmas in July markets have become a major attraction.

Cobblestone streets are blanketed in faux snow, and stalls sell mulled wine, roasted marshmallows, and bubbling raclette cheese.

The scene is straight out of Europe, say visitors Nemer and Leila Awad, who compare it to Parisian Christmas markets.

That’s exactly the vibe Hernandez wanted when he launched the Rocks event in 2018.

To capture the magic of Strasbourg’s famous markets, he imported 40 wooden huts from France and sourced real Christmas trees from a local Sydney farm.

The farm owner, Leo Damasi, admits July sales have soared over the past two decades.

“It’s definitely growing every year,” he says.

Even major brands like KFC have joined the trend, though Garry Crockett believes the heart of the celebration lies elsewhere.

“It’s about friendship, love, and connection, not commercialization.”

In fact, for some Australians, Christmas in July might be even better than the real thing.

With the pressure and heat of December behind them, they can relax, unwind by the fire, and share the moment with chosen companions, not just obligatory ones.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook